Oslo Nights

There are not many things in this world that inspires more national spirit and pride in Norwegians than cross country skiing and other winter sports. We paint our faces, pack our backpacks and drink hot chocolate while cheering for our champions, and it is this sense of national pride that Moods of Norway have tried to capture with their latest collection.

Moods of Norway have always been about modernizing the national icons and keeping with Norwegian traditions, and one can really argue that the collaboration with the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship is what Moods of Norway was created for. The show on Thursday drew 50.000 people to the University Square to witness a show that only Moods of Norway can deliver.

A modernized version of “Brudeferd i Hardanger” opened the show (after a performance of Madcon), the bride and groom seated in a crystallized white boat that was pulled across the stage by dancers dressed up as trolls. Arve Tellefsen was also present in the boat and started what was a broad show-off of Norwegian artists; Wenche Myhre, Magnet, Ralph Myers, Madcon, Satyricon and Mariann Rosa entertained the guests while 140 models and dancers filled the catwalk and stage.

The clothes paid homage to Norwegian winter and winter athletes and consisted of five themes; Red White & Blue, Vintage Moods, Pink Snow, Northern Lights and Winter Wonderland. The women’s styling ranged from the ever-so-popular 50s and 60s theme (revitalized through movies and series like Mad Men and Revolutionary Road) with red lips and iron-curled hair to rocked Mohawk-inspired creations decorated with everything from flowers to glow sticks.

Knitted jumpsuits, boleros, blazers and dresses in red, white and blue decorated with the traditional knitted ski sweater patterns and tractors. Shirts and blazers paired with skiing pants, moon boots and goggle marks. Evening wear combined with polar bear accessories in the form of gloves, hats with ears, bolero with a tail, muffs and scarves. With 90 models (Whitney Port’s boy toy Ben Nemtin among others) gracing the stage this was an extensive and colorful show, made even more impressive by a festive audience. The traditional Moods suits were showcased in colors ranging from silver patterned to brush strokes of red, blue, green and purple, as well as the red, white and blue ones that will be a hit on May 17th.

All in all Moods of Norway delivered one of their strongest collections to this date, both for women and men, as well as the party one has come to expect from the guys from Stryn. With snow bunnies, death metal and Wenche Myhre, it had to be memorable.

Words: Maren Hald Bjørgum / lostmyhead.org

Photos: Tine Berge